Major Sanctuaries in India

Introduction:

A sanctuary is a place where animals can live freely in their natural habitat without being disturbed by humans. The state governments specifically declare these areas to protect the natural flora and fauna of the region and provide a safe place for wildlife, especially for endangered species and abused animals. The government protects these areas to prevent illegal activities like hunting and poaching. With the extensive construction of human establishments happening all over, it is important to protect the natural environment as much as possible so that wildlife can co-exist peacefully on earth without causing an imbalance in natural surroundings. Now let us take a look at some major sanctuaries in India.

Sanctuaries in North India

Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu and Kashmir

It is one of the famous sanctuaries in North India. The sanctuary has a total area of around 5000 square kilometres and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1987. It is the home to a rare breed of antelope known as Chiru. Apart from Chiru, several other animals like Snow leopards, Red foxes, Wolves, and Yaks are also found in this sanctuary. 

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand

It is another sanctuary in North India, home to a wide variety of wildlife. It is home to animals and home to over 200 species of birds. The best part of this sanctuary is that visitors do not need to hire a safari jeep to explore the sanctuary. Rather, you are allowed to walk around to explore this natural habitat.

Sanctuaries in South India

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

This wildlife sanctuary is situated at an elevation of 1875 meters and has about 500 square kilometres. It is one of the major sanctuaries in South India. It provides a safe place for animals like Elephants, Wild boars, Black leopards, Jungle cats, etc., and acts as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. Visitors can enjoy safari trips organised by the forest department for exploring the wild.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Chinnar Sanctuary was declared a sanctuary in 1984 by the Kerala government. It is the only sanctuary in Kerala to have Grizzled giant squirrels along with Common flying squirrels and Malabar giant squirrels. Elephants, Tigers, Wild boars, Spotted deer, and Leopards are other animals.

Sanctuaries in East India

Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal

Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the oldest sanctuaries of our country. It is situated near Darjeeling at an elevation ranging from 4900 – 8500 ft. It is home to several mountainous animals like Himalayan black bear, Wild boar, Assam macaque, and Himalayan flying squirrel. 

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

Manas sanctuary is located in the northeastern part of India. It is also declared as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. Wildlife inhabiting this sanctuary includes Samber, Hog deer, Swamp deer, Wild boar, and elephants and leopards. The sanctuary hosts several tourist activities like jeep safari, elephant safari, and river rafting.

Sanctuaries in West India

Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat

Declared as a sanctuary in 1986, this is one of the major sanctuaries and the largest in Gujarat. It is located in the Kutch district, famous for its saline wetlands. It is popular among visitors as it provides a natural habitat for thousands of Flamingos to nest and breed. This area also finds Spiny-tailed lizards, Foxes, Hyenas, Nilgai, and Chinkara abundantly.

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

It is considered an important bird area. It is located in the Satara district and has an area of around 423.55 square kilometres. It is known to house several species of birds and animals. The prime ones are Royal Bengal tigers and King cobras. The sanctuary is also blessed with natural resources like the Solashi, Kandati, and Koyna rivers. The western ghats also protect it from both sides.

Sanctuaries in Central India

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

It is one of the major sanctuaries in terms of landmass. It is spread across 1197 square kilometres and has two major rivers flowing through it, Ganga and Narmada. Wildlife found in this area is Bengal fox, Indian wolf, and Striped Hyena. Here, wildlife experts are thinking of reintroducing Cheetahs after their extinction.

Conclusion:

As wildlife sanctuaries are protected areas, people cannot visit these places without permission. Very few activities are allowed in these areas, like livestock grazing, biologist activities, and research activities related to wildlife. National parks and sanctuaries usually allow recreation activities like wildlife safari, camping, etc., to raise capital for maintenance. Visitors must follow strict protocols and are usually accompanied by forest officials to ensure minimum disturbance to wildlife. Every person must visit one or more major sanctuaries in India to see how wildlife thrives in its natural habitat and learn ways to take care of it.